The Beast of Gevaudun

The Adventures of Humphrey Hodgson in the Kingdom of France
by Thos. Smollett, Esqre, Surgeon

Chapter the XIVth

In which our Hero learns some Alarming News - a novel Conveyance - a Storm in the Mountains- safe Deliverance

Before retiring for the night we were appraised of some alarming News. The Diligence which was to have conveyed us to Mende has been destroyed and all of its occupants and the horses by the Beast of Gevaudan, an enormous Wolfe which has terrorised this Country over many months.

M. le Curé, a man of most excellent parts and a possessed of a keen and Philosophickal intelligence, had himself witnessed the recent outrage on the coach. While we listened in rapt and horrified Alarm he told us how he had seen the Beast descend on the coach and seize its Occupants. Whereupon the Beast did set a table laid about with fine Damask Linen and did set about his neck a white Napkin and did then devour the Coachman and his Postillion, two horses and the four passengers and did then release a most pretty and polite belch at the Conclusion of his Repast.
My Valet Thomas did spend much of the night in Discourse with the Blacksmith and on the Morrow we did discover two most pretty Conveyances which had been fashioned from Iron and Leather. In place of the horses he had determined on using the only other source of motive power at our disposal viz that supplied by the firm young thighs of Mistress Verity and her Maid Helen,

 a most pleasing and comely Wench, who would sit behind the Captains of these fine Machines and, by a most wonderful and ingenious Contrivance, cause the Wheels to rotate by means of a Chain. Viewing this elongated Cycle-Machine gave Humphrey the pleasing Conceit of calling it a Tandem. And thus it might be possible to attain the Heights above Mende.
We did leave our Lodgings with many an "Huzzah!" shouted by the Populace who gathered to watch our Progress and to marvel at the Achievements of Natural Philosophie.
The Blacksmith did say in parting that he had heard say of similar Machines which had descended in a Race into Mende just this Summer and that they were made of Carbon. We gave no Credence to such a fanciful Notion as a Cycle-Machine hewn from Coal.
We made excellently rapid Progress through the hamlets of Monastère and Chirac and put in at a Coaching Inn in the town of Marvejols where we recruited our Spirits and Bodies with fine Coffee before setting forth on our Ascent of the Col de Goudard.

 By a new fangled form of Measurement the locals tell us that this stands at 1022 metres - which is about 2400 Cubits in our Estimation.
With the women powering us up the Hill we soon attained the Height whereupon Thomas did set about effecting a Portrait of all standing before the Summit marker a most difficult Undertaking as at every Moment the roaring Gale threatened to carry away the Canvas.

Then began a most perilously swift Descent to Mende made more Fearful by the absence of any form of Restraint on our headlong Progress. We arrived at the Expedient of employing a form of Grapple or Anchor such as is used in His Majesty's ships. And thus we arrived in Mende.
After a Halt for Refreshment we sallied forth towards Bagnols-les-Bains, a town not unlike Bath, where Gentlefolk may go for a Cure for the Gout and the Ague.
On this Passage we were Overwhelmed by a most Prodigious Torrent of Rain. Thunder and Lightning crashed all around the Peaks and we became Fearful for our Lives lest we be Drowned in the Deluge or perhaps taken Unawares by the Wolf.

Our Host was waiting anxiously for us and conveyed both us and our Steeds into the warmth. This hotel has clearly seen better Times as is Shewn by the evidence of the bathing Pool which is now employed for the Storage of a Soupe made of Peas.

And so to Bed.

Km Cycled: 65 (48 Leagues)
Mechanikals: adjustments to Tom's rear disc brake and Jim's front brake.
Injuries: Nil